relative to licensure as a pet vendor.
HB 1157 requires anyone operating a physical facility to transfer 30 or more dogs, cats, ferrets, or 50 or more birds (or other common household pets) to obtain a license as a pet vendor. It directly affects commercial pet sellers or breeders handling large volumes of animals through physical locations. The key provision adds a new licensing requirement to state law, prohibiting unlicensed operation when combined animal transfers exceed these thresholds. The bill has minimal fiscal impact (under $10,000 annually) and takes effect 45 days after enactment.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Dec 1, 2025
Signed May 28, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Version adopted by both bodies
→
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION
·
3 edits
MINOR
No substantive policy changes were made. The diff reflects only the standard chaptering process: the bill was assigned Chapter 82, section numbers were updated accordingly (1→82:1, 2→82:2), the fiscal note was removed (as it is not part of the final law), and official approval and effective dates were added.
TECHNICAL
Section numbers changed from 1 and 2 to 82:1 and 82:2 to reflect the assigned chapter number.
The fiscal note (estimating less than $10,000 annual impact) was removed, as it is not included in the final chaptered law.
TIMELINE
Official approval date (May 22, 2026) and effective date (July 06, 2026) were added to the final version.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
13
Key actions
6
Committee
5
May 28, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor Ayotte 05/22/2026; Chapter 82; eff.07/06/2026
lower
Apr 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/09/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 13
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Introduced
Introduced 02/19/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 5
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 15
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/03/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 7 P. 11
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Full Committee Work Session: 02/03/2026 11:15 am GP 153
lower
Dec 1, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 1 P. 8
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Peter Bixby
DDemocratic
Co
Howard Pearl
RRepublican
Co
Judy Aron
RRepublican
Co
Liz Barbour
RRepublican
Co
Nick Germana
DDemocratic
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